Investigations
PDM Failures
NHTSA Recall Query RQ12001 - closed, opened 2012-12-07.
NHTSA investigation RQ12001 is a Recall Query opened on 2012-12-07 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2013-04-16 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Recall Query like RQ12001 evaluates whether a previously issued recall is actually fixing the problem. NHTSA opens an RQ when owners continue to report the original defect after the recall remedy is installed, or when completion rates fall short of the agency's expectations for that risk tier.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "ODI opened this investigation based on Early Warning Reporting (EWR) data screening activities that indicated that numerous PDMs failed on 2007 M2 vehicles that were not part of the manufacturer's voluntary recall, 08V-1..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time.
Investigation Summary
ODI opened this investigation based on Early Warning Reporting (EWR) data screening activities that indicated that numerous PDMs failed on 2007 M2 vehicles that were not part of the manufacturer's voluntary recall, 08V-154. The information available during the screening effort did not differentiate PDMs controlling trailer lighting from other PDMs used on the vehicle. ODI opened this investigation in order to collect additional information and ensure the scope of the original recall was appropriate. Recall 08V-154 was limited to trailer PDMs located on the fuel tank bracket. M2 vehicles utilized a total of eight locations to mount the trailer PDM. When comparing the warranty claims for each of the locations separately, the claim rate for the recalled population is over 3 times higher than the non-recalled population with other mounting locations. After seven years of service and no known crashes, fires or injuries, the data suggests that when mounted in the locations not included in the original recall, the subject PDM does not pose an unreasonable risk to highway safety at this time. For this reason, this investigation is closed and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists in the subject vehicles. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
About This Investigation Type
A Recall Query (RQ) evaluates the effectiveness of a previously issued recall. NHTSA opens an RQ when consumer complaints suggest that a recall remedy may not be adequately addressing the safety issue, or when the recall completion rate appears insufficient.
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.